Page 85 of A Rake's Redemption
“Well, then you know nothing has gone on.” Alex took another swallow of tea and wished he had a brandy.
“That does not explain the negligee, does it?” George all but sneered at him. “You do know I am aware of that ridiculous club? The Ravaged Revelers or some such thing. Those women just could not keep the news of the ‘gifts’ to themselves, could they?”
“Damn it.” Alex set the teacup down. “I did not send Amelia that negligee.”
“So she said.”
“And you don’t believe her?”
“I have not decided. At the moment, she’s packing to go back to her father’s for an extended stay.”
“That is a bit extreme.”
“No one plays me for a fool.” George stormed over and sat down opposite Alex. “But I am not here to discuss my wife.”
Alex sighed. His brother had the same look on his face as when he had been a prefect at Eton pointing out some violation of rules. “No?”
“No. Your rash behavior should not surprise me, but it does.”
He was obviously going to have to listen to a lecture on his behavior. Once George got started, it was better just to let him blow his steam. But God, Alex really wanted a brandy.
George gestured around the room. “I allow you to live in this house—”
“Only because you prefer the townhouse in Mayfair and someone has to keep this place up.”
“Nevertheless, it is the ducal house.”
Alex shrugged. “I can move.”
“Not far enough,” George replied. “You’ve really gone and done it this time. What were you thinking bringing her to my ball? Have you no decency?”
Alex felt his temper begin to rise. Berating him was one thing, but berating Inis, who didn’t deserve it, was quite another. He wondered how George had found out she was a commoner so soon. “All right, you win. Inis had been handling and training my horses.”
His brother’s eyes nearly popped. “Handling your horses?”
“Yes. Jameson thinks she is quite good at it.”
“Yourgroomthinks Lady Fitzgerald is good at handling horses? I say, that is simply amazing.”
Alex frowned, wishing his brain wasn’t so foggy. “Who the hell is Lady Fitzgerald?”
“Yourguest, you imbecile.”
His frown deepened. “I have no idea what you are talking about. InisO’Brienis an orphan whose services I won in a card game.”
George stared at him. “Oh, dear God. This is even worse than I thought.”
Alex felt a stirring of unease. “What is?”
“Your guest is an orphan, quite true.” George heaved a big sigh. “But her name is not O’Brien. The Earl of Lockwood recognized her last night. She is Lady Inis Fitzgerald, niece of the Duke of Kildare. He is her guardian.”
It was Alex’s turn to stare. He only hoped he was not gaping as well, since his whole face felt numb. He knew Inis had lied to him when she’d first arrived, but he’d thought she didn’t want to go back to a poverty-stricken family. But she was the niece—thearistocraticniece—of a powerful Irish duke who happened to be her guardian as well.
Holy, bloody hell.
“Are you sure?”
His brother looked at him as though he was a complete idiot, which he probably was. How could he have been so stupid not to question her more?
